*Neuwertig JOHN LOBB Monk Strap, "Fould": 41.5-42D

Little need be said about this good shoemaker, neither the family run shop in London nor its branch opened in Paris at the beginning of the last century and acquired by Hermès in 1976. John Lobb is of course, the premiere workshop for traditional English Shoes and stands noticeably above even the other superior shoemakers such as Church´s or Crockett & Jones, Alden, Weston etc., and along with Edward Green and (I believe) the old Peal & Co., is in the top category of shoemakers in the world. Ready made shoes from Lobb (Paris or London) are in the $1200-1600 category and bespoke shoes about three times that price, $4000. Shoe trees are now 465 Pounds Sterling ($600 thereabouts) http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/pricelist.htm

It is fair to say of this John Lobb model that it defines the Monk Strap shoe. It cannot be improved upon. You may own other monks for variety but you will always return to this shoe. It is the Platonic ideal from which all other monks spring and against which all others are measured.Size: UK 8E......US 8.5-9D...European 41.5-42D, for the mid-width foot.